Rituals #1: My Morning Face-Care Routine

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What do you do when you wake up in the morning? Get out of bed and make it up. Brush your teeth wash your face. Get the morning brew going. Look in a full closet at a loss of what to wear. We have all developed important morning rituals that are characteristic of how we start our day; however, ladies if you do not have a morning beauty ritual, you’re falling short.

I’m not talking about putting on makeup (though it may be a part of our mornings), but an actual face-care routine that becomes habitual. As I’ve said before, I’m really into Korean skincare and adjust the step routines to meet my facial needs. I’ve also gotten more interested in organic skincare products as well. Incorporating a variety of products in different systems has helped me develop a morning (and night time) ritual that my skin greatly appreciates. Without further ado, this is a little of what my morning face-care routine looks like.

Cleanse. I used to use a milk cleanser in the morning, but now I alternate between a cleansing water and a foaming cleanser. The cleansing water gently cleanses, leaving my face feeling moisturized and not stripped. 2 pumps of Green Tea Balancing Cleansing Water by Innisfree, and just gingerly wipe with a cotton pad. I use this more often, especially since I am not going outside as much. When I am not using this cleansing water, I use CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser, which is equally as gentle on my skin. I started using this one when I came back from Shanghai and my skin was not only going through hormonal, but environmental changes. It has now normalized since.

Exfoliate. Since I have Keratosis Pilaris or KP, exfoliation is a must in my routine. Obviously, over exfoliating can do more harm than good, so I use St. Ives Blackhead Clearing Face Scrub with Green Tea & Bamboo and Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Medication. It works as a moderate exfoliant, having natural exfoliants made from walnut shells. So, it’s safe to use daily. It is not heavy to use and does wonders for clearing pores, blackheads and reducing redness, which for me is especially around the nose.

Steam. Not with an actual steamer, although I do have one. That would take too much time in the morning. Instead, I get a hot (not scalding) washcloth and press it to face while breathing in the steam. I honestly do this just because it feels good, but it also opens pores for the next step.

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Tone. I alternate between a few depending on the time of year and how my skin feels. While back in Florida, the weather tends to not fluctuate a lot, so I have been recently using Thayers Facial Toner, Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera and Rose Petal. When I feel my skin requires more hydration in toning I triple tone with It’s Skin Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Toner.

Essence/ Serum/ Oil. Just a few drops of Innisfree’s Green Tea Seed Serum here and there, and we’re done. It is especially hydrating and leaves my face feeling soft and plump. For extra hydration or treatment, I may prep with Innisfree Green Barley Daily Peeling Essence or top off with Innisfree Olive Real Essential Oil. I particularly like the Olive Real Essential Oil because it quenches dry areas along my cheeks and forehead without an oily residue

Moisturize. Cosrx’s All-in-One Advanced Snail 92 Cream is my favorite moisturizer right now. It’s a rich-cream with gel like consistency that melts in to your skin. A little goes a long way and my skin feels hydrated throughout the day. A plus for me as well, is that it helps keep my oily areas under control.

Finally, sunscreen. I usually put sunscreen on most days. Even if I’m not going outside for a long period time, I still will because I tend to just step outside my house to get some vitamin D. Sunscreen is an essential part of any face-care routine and since I live in Florida, you can bet I always have sunscreen handy.

It may seem like a lot, but the steps can easily be done in less than 10 minutes. It is worth the investment. After all, you can change your clothes all the time, not your face (unless you have money, but that would be a waste).

Even if I’m not going out, I do this every morning with a rest day. Having integrated a daily face care routine encourages me to appreciate my skin more, and the more time I spend pampering my face, the more I love the woman I see in the mirror. Do you have a morning beauty ritual? Tell us all about it below.